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A Little Review

Okay, JC is starting Thurs. but probably not playing that much and Portis could end up getting a few carries too.

We'll see how that goes in both cases. If Portis truly could have played in the last few preseason games, as Gibbs said he could, then they might as well get him some work, 'cause with the season getting close they need to crank him up. Only 3 real practices left before Sept. 9.

Big Joe getting cut has been lingering for a while - think I blogged about it well before the start of camp- but to his credit he looked healhty and active this camp. I thought if they keep 9 guys he'd have a shot, but even with Joe looking refreshed, they knew it was time to bleed some kids there, and Golston, Montgomery, Wilson and Alexander could likely all make this team (obviously Golston and Montgomery will). Joe would have had to have an truly outstanding camp to make the team, and given his injury history I can see why they would look at other guys.

It stinks on a lot of levels, but that's the business. It's very cruel, especially this time of year.

It's about time they went with more kids there and longterm it's the right move. From a chemistry standpoint, losing Lemar and Salave'a in the span of the week is a big blow to the locker room, but this is a team that was ranked 31st a year ago on D, so that's going to happen.

It's one where your heart says keep him around, but the mind tells you something else. Overall, I like what the Skins are doing on D. Nine months ago they looked old, but now you see Landry, Taylor, Carlos, Rocky, Golston, Montgomery and even a kid like Wilson - who could fill that Chris Clemons role from a few years ago - and it bodes well for the future.

One other thing. It's kind of late in the game, but don't rule out the Skins showing some interest in WR Doug Gabriel who was cut by Oakland this week. Right now they really only have 4 WRs worth keeping, and that's not a bad way to go (no sense keeping a 5th just because), but Gabriel has some size has done some nice things and I heard that the Skins and Raiders spoke about a possible trade this summer before the Redskins ended up bringing in Pinkston and bunch of other longshots.

No contact between Gabriel and the Skins as of today, I hear, but if at some point they need another WR - next week or during the regular season - he's a name to watch.

Unbelieveable that Pinkstno didn't make the squda. I always liked his work ethci, he was tough ovre the middle too. Just shows you what happens when Dan Snydre is rnuning the team, he si just dumb. Thakn you for the blgo Jasno.

Unbelieveable that Pinkstno didn't make the squda. I always liked his work ethci, he was tough ovre the middle too. Just shows you what happens when Dan Snydre is rnuning the team, he si just dumb. Thakn you for the blgo Jasno.

Posted by: Walt Poole | August 28, 2007 06:12 PM

You'd rather have Stinkston over a 1st rounder like Rod "I am excited to be a Skins again" Gardner? That's absurd.

Doug Gabriel did something for a little while in New England, didn't he? Still, if every team needs to shed 18 dudes (minus exemptions), maybe other options await. Seems like we have enough WRs for Week 1, so the only reason to even invite Gabriel in for a tryout (really? the RAIDERS cut him?) would be if the Skins cut 19 guys.

Guess Walt Poole missed that play when Stinkston quit on a ball being scared in the Sunday nighter against us a few years back.

Doug Gabriel played for the Raiders and was traded to the Pats at the beginning of last season. Was released in December and back to Oakland where he couldn't latch on again. Not sure what to make of all that except our quest to find some suitable compliments to Santana are consisting of scrap heap players. Step up #85.

I still say that the best (maybe only) reason to get Portis on the field is to block out the backfield. It will get his mind back into game speed. He won't have to cut (much) and aggravate the tendon (I hope), and he is a great blocking back. Skins might actually be able to put up some yards btwn the tackles, e.g., in Betts' hands. Might also be good practice for Betts, who has not had much practice needing to hang onto the ball.

Sportsnet just reported that everyone practiced today......JC, Portis (Sportsnet showed him catching a ball and running and he looked fine)....Samuels, Kendall and Marcus Washington.

Williams said it was really hard to cut Big Joe as he is very close to him but that the younger guys just beat him out. Williams said Salavea is also close to his own kids and that it was difficult to tell them last night.

Stop. All this trash talk about Ladell Betts being oh so good and how Portis is lollygagging is too much for me to take. First off, I like Ladell too but have you seen him block? Be serious guys. He's a nice backup. But he aint Clinton. Portis blocks like a beast. Portis is faster and can change directions. You know it. I know it. And Ladell knows it. That's why he resigned with the Skins for less money. Unless Portis gets hurt he gets to make millions for 5-10 carries per game. Nice deal. I would have taken that too.

I like CP but have some concerns with his preseason shabingus. Never been, Never will be a Ladell fan. Do you know if we are keeping a 3rd running back? I liked how mason performed against the 2nd-6th stringers of the opponents. I am curious to see how he will do against the first teamers.

Stop, agreed, but if the Skins actually tried to balance the pass v. rush game, i.e., even TRY to run the ball, then Betts would have to get more carries. Anytime Portis is in there, the D has to think rush (er ... as I'm typing this, I'm seeing the flaw in my logic, but bear with me for a second), which means ... actually, never mind.

I probably just should have said that Betts needs to get as much game time practice as Portis b/c the Skins have delivered NOTHING in the preseason in rushing yards.

'Sween maybe we get to see some 2-back formations. With CP providing some key blocking for Betts for a big... significant... moderate... decent... okay gain. It's a 7 hundred page play book, it must be there somewhere.

I have no problem with them being careful with Ladell in preseason. With Portis possibly hurt (he may have been faking), if Ladell gets hurt during preseason the Skins would be in a lot of trouble. We would be looking at a TJ Duckett situation. We don't want to visit that again.

PSon (pardon the shortcut), I am not sure that they were being careful with Ladell. I think they wanted to run, but simply could not. Hopefully, this is more of the OLine not being healthy than Ladell sucking. I guess we'll find out for real once Kendall starts jiving with the starters and Samuels returns.

I understand holding back Portis. He's either hurt ... or just pissed off from last season and not worth the risk this season. What I don't understand is holding back Betts.

Stumped, you'll notice I stopped before I got to periculated. The better part of valor would have been to self-loseable type that, but I screwed up on mixing Betts' stuff with Portis' stuff. You gotta be careful when you dysmix stuff.

The running back position is probably one spot we can worry about the least. I don't care if Portis ever takes a snap again in the preseason if he brings it like he has every Sunday for the past 3 years here. Even if Betts is only getting about 10 carries a game I am sure he will have opportunities to touch it in the passing game with the perceived lack of options on the outside. Not too many LB's will be able to check him.

cdubb, no quibble with that ... but the suspense of not knowing whether Portis (1) is really hurt or (2) had a secret "you don't have to play preseason" deal with St. Joe is killing me. Number 1 and I'm despondent. Number 2 and all is forgiven and I'm downing Kool-Aid shots.

[That word "Kool-Aid" is way over-used ... the Peoples' Temple/Jonestown crowd drank something red, but it wasn't Kool-Aid. And THAT whole shabingus really was tragic (they were drugged long before the actual mass suicide). As a kid, I used to like Kool-Aid. The use of the term to flame hardcore fans, esp. here, bugs me.]

i just wanted to say that i'm not the only fool in town talking 14-2 and superbowl. i'm in the most awesomest company, my second most favorite person's company, John Riggins. he also thinks the same exact way. for the same exact reasons (the D and st. Joe!)

c'mon people, we got plenty of room up here. jump on the bandwagon! 14-2! party like 1991!!!

The GM in KC made it clear that he is still wanted there. He likely won't be cut. He is envisioned as a hybrid receiver/running back.

Posted by: periculum | August 28, 2007 07:48 PM

8/21/07 (press conference on LJ breaking his holdout)
Q: How does this affect the Priest Holmes situation if at all?

PETERSON: "It doesn't affect Priest at all. I sometimes don't understand why the media doesn't listen to what we're saying. First of all, Priest Holmes deserves the right to try to make a comeback after being gone for 22 months. After what he's contributed to the Kansas City Chiefs and National Football League I want to afford him that opportunity.

"But he knew from the onset and I'd like to express it one more time: IF PRIEST IS WITH US it will not be in the same capacity as it was before. I think, and Herm thinks, he can be a marvelous situational running back - that's SHORT YARDAGE, GOAL LINE, SCREENS AND DRAWS. He's not going to carry it or touch it as much as he did when he was with us before.http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2007/08/21/qa_with_carl_peterson_on_larry_johnson/

I am sure many of you would have been happy with a DUI guy like Lance Briggs. I wonder how that would have gone over in DC. In a $200,000 Lamborghini no less. Just another disgruntled free agent. Wonder if Hank Aaron will come out to defend him as well? Maybe you'd have been overjoyed to have him Stump et al?

Looking at the "officially approved" depth chart can be as intriguing as looking at the candid videos on redskins.com.

Let's see: Brunell esconced at #2. Message to Atlanta? To the team? To the fans? Heyer and Armstrong still listed as 1st backups at tackle. Todd Wade now listed behind Pete Kendall and his 1st backup Pucillo.

Toler and Berman backup the usual suspects at WR.

Edwards and Toler behind Cooley

Is Wade on his way out?

Brian Bell is behind Sellers with Beasley listed 3rd.

Its still Portis, Betts, and Cartwright.

Alexander now backs up Golston. Montgomery backs up Griffin.
Its now Philips, Wynn and Buzbee. Carter, Evans, and Wilson.
Askew is there too.

Even though it feels bad, I guess in a way it's good to know that with the cuts of Marshall and Big Joe, the team isn't keeping players based on favouritism, and are basing their roster on current/future performances. Hopefully this trend applies to all players. Not looking at anyone in particular Mark and Renaldo.

Since Bramlet was cut, I've been pretty sure that we'd keep the 3 vet QB's on the roster and sign Palmer to the practice squad. I'm starting to have second thoughts on this now though. I can't help but think that with the vet cuts, and Brunell to get quite a bit of time against the Jags, his former team, that it looks a little like a swan song. Nice farewell to a nice guy. Just a feeling.

No, it isn't official as far as the NFL is concerned my cretinous anonymous friend. As a follower of G-Fitz's now defunct practice blog HE SAID HE MADE THE DEPYH CHART on the DIRECTION OF and APPROVAL BT Redskins management including JOE GIBBS.

#10 In 16 seasons as a head coach or offensive coordinator, Norv Turner has had two 1,000-yard pass catchers in one season only once. Michael Westbrook and Albert Connell both had more than 1,000 yards in 1999. In fact, Turner has had even one 1,000-yard receiver only nine of those 16 seasons, and three of the nine were Michael Irvin. And now he has Tomlinson. I'm guessing Antonio Gates will get 1,000 yards, but that's it.

...

#29 The last three years that offensive coordinator Al Saunders had a consistent quarterback, Trent Green had three straight 4,000 passing-yard seasons. Expect Jason Campbell to start all 16 games this season, and look for the Redskins to be behind and throwing.

...

#36 Despite his starting only eight games last season, there were only seven running backs in the NFL with more total yards from scrimmage than Ladell Betts.

I can't help but think that with the vet cuts, and Brunell to get quite a bit of time against the Jags, his former team, that it looks a little like a swan song. Nice farewell to a nice guy. Just a feeling.

Posted by: kost52 | August 28, 2007 08:16 PM

Kost, I'm afraid that feeling is going to go away pretty soon. Enjoy it while you got it.

If Joe were going to let Brunell go, he would have done it by now so that Mark could catch on with another team. Only way I can see that Brunell goes is he gets injured Thursday or they need the cap savings -- which isn't much since Mark took a cut. Or, maybe Social Security will stop sending his monthly pension unless he formally retires.

Also, has Palmer shown anything that would make Joe Gibbs want to put him into a game?

TE - yeah, they're all fair enough points. Don't get me wrong I don't want Brunell cut, I'd feel much safer with the 3 vets on the roster. I've also said that I can't see why they'd keep Palmer on the roster when they haven't even made time to get him a single snap during the pre-season so far.

I can't believe some of you still are thinking Brunell will get cut. (1) Gibbs loves him (2) Gibbs loves him (3) Gibbs loves him (4) Todd Collins and Jordan Palmer (who has yet to throw a pass) as the only backups behind a young Campbell?

KA--Betts only fumbled four times last year, losing two. He carried the ball 245 times. I'm not sure it's fair to characterize him as having fumblitis. That would be Cartwright who, in his career, has carried the ball 144 times and fumbled three times.

"If Joe were going to let Brunell go, he would have done it by now so that Mark could catch on with another team. Only way I can see that Brunell goes is he gets injured Thursday or they need the cap savings -- which isn't much since Mark took a cut."

Or he has enough value to trade him ... to a team with former coaches who appreciate, need and want him. Good for both sides.

That's more along the lines to what I was thinking. What if this pre-season he's finding that his body just isn't at the level it needs to be. A game against the former team (albeit a pre-season game) might be a nice way to pull the pin on his career.

But there's really no reason for me to think this, it's just a feeling.

Unbelieveable that Pinkstno didn't make the squda. I always liked his work ethci, he was tough ovre the middle too. Just shows you what happens when Dan Snydre is rnuning the team, he si just dumb. Thakn you for the blgo Jasno.

Keisel appeals fine: Defensive end Brett Keisel is appealing the $12,500 fine he received for a low hit on Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell during an Aug. 18 preseason game.

Campbell bruised a knee and was taken out of the game but was not seriously hurt. He expects to play Thursday night against Jacksonville in the Redskins' final exhibition game.

The NFL has been more stringent about lower leg hits to unprotected quarterbacks since the Steelers' Kimo von Oelhoffen took the Bengals' Carson Palmer out of a playoff game in January 2006 with such a hit. Von Oelhoffen was not penalized.

"I didn't think I would get one [a fine] but I did," Keisel said Tuesday. "I guess they've got to throw the flag when you're messing around with the quarterback's feet. I'll appeal it and we'll see what happens."

I respect periculum for his dogged and quixotic pursuit of this or that argument, and for the mostly civil way he goes about his business up here, but lately he's been veering well into the dubious territory once heavily trod by dealer. You know what I'm talking about, the path to crazyville. I know wherefrom I speak, because I've been down that path a time or two myself.

I'd like extra credit for posting on this other thing that is not quite a blog.
**************************************

Seer of the Obvious, I know from obvious, and I know exactly what it is you're talking about -- the anti-Redskins and specifically anti-Gibbs conspiracy which involves the entire staff of the Washington Post and poisons their coverage of our beloved team. It's so obvious I have been a fool not to acknowledge it before! Perhaps I'm a part of the conspiracy myself! Horrors!

Come on, now. We're all super-sensitive, we're rooting our guts out for Joe and his boys, and we want everything to be sunshine and rainbows and winged unicorns shouting "Touchdown, Washington Redskins!" But there are going to be sour moments in the coverage of a 5-11 team which has jerked us around like a yo-yo for the past fifteen years. There just are.

We don't handle bad news well, just admit it, but that's OUR problem, not the Post's.

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that a trio of Florida receivers are available to any interested takers.

Specifically Reggie Williams of the Jaguars, Michael Clayton of the Bucs, and Chris Chambers of the Dolphins are on the block.

But Schefter says that no serious talks have occurred regarding any of the three, which means that all three of them are in danger of being released on or before Saturday. Chambers, a second-round pick in 2001, has been the best of the three. Clayton and Williams were first-round picks in 2004. Williams was the No. 9 overall pick; Clayton was No. 15.

Stumped, I recognized the Monty Python bit ("your wife, does she go? does she go? eh? ... SAY NO MO-UH! eh? eh?"). But, I don't understand what peri was driving at with the flame usegroup.

peri, the link that your cretinous friend put up (to the Skins site) says, at the bottom, its an unofficial depth chart. I have no idea what you mean by Gary Fitz getting Gibbs' official approval. I don't understand how you get hybrid receiver/running back out of a statement from the GM that says the guy is going to run short routes, goal line, and screens. And what does any of that have to do with Bobby Mitchell, Charley Taylor, Joe Washington, Antwaan Randle El, Kelvin Bryant? You say it like its as obvious as Joe Gibbs saying "guts out". I honestly cannot follow your stream of consciousness.

Stop the KA, sorry, I wasn't referring to you specifically when I was talking about Kool-Aid. Welcome to the blog. The name that was working for me was Stop (its a name that is consistent with the pervading feeling of "uh oh" on the blog, see also Stumped and 4-12). Lots of the posters on the ES site posters use "Kool-Aid" and "homer" just to clear their throats and say nothing. [I'm not ripping that community in its entirety; there are LOTS of excellent posters there ... there's just so much crap in between. The animated emoticons drive me nuts.]

Re: Betts' rushing numbers for those last seven games ... I remember those numbers too. I just don't remember those particular rushing yards translating into winning games. Don't get me wrong, I like Betts, but as the #2 guy. Portis, on the other hand, earns quality yards, motivates other guys, and his rhythm becomes the offense's rhythm. Watching a game requiring Betts' rhythm is kind of like watching Al Gore (the boring VP Al Gore, not the interesting global climate change Al Gore).

"I didn't think I would get one [a fine] but I did," Keisel said Tuesday. "I guess they've got to throw the flag when you're messing around with the quarterback's feet. I'll appeal it and we'll see what happens."

Posted by: SCSkinsFan | August 28, 2007 09:47 PM

Campaign back on. Sounds like he's appealing it for the [FJK] of it. It was a shttyi hit and could have costs the team its meal ticket ... and it was a farkus preseason game! I'm thinking about sending the Commissioner a reply brief my own bad self, pro se. Screw Keisel. "This aggression, you know, it can't stand, man." Plus, he also disrupted the blog harmony, making our new guy, Heyer, look bad. That hit was WAY worse than the one that finished Carson Palmer, which at bottom, meant that the Steelers pilfered the Super Bowl from the Bengals. KEISEL DOESN'T EVEN SAY WHY THE FINE WAS WRONG! ("SHOMER SHABBOS!" ... "Walter, calm down." "Oh, I'm calm, Dude.").

Take away last year and he's averaged over 1480 yards a season. And that's while facing consistent 8 or 9 man fronts in 04 and 05. JC's intermediate and deep passing will open up even more lanes for Portis. He's only 26. And he's way too damn proud to have back-to-back disappointing seasons.

Stop the KA, I probably didn't explain that very well, about the "uh oh" feeling. Its the general feeling of a Skins fan in the Snyder era ... its just hard to accept that the next frig-up by the FO isn't right around the next corner. Its not quite cautious optimism ... more like neurotic optimism. Its like being a freak fan for the team, outwardly fearing "4-12," but secretly aspiring for a Super Bowl and not wanting to let anyone know b/c it might jinx it ... b/c every third move by the FO leaves you "Stumped".

[Maybe I got the Stumped origin wrong, maybe it has to do with Portland, but roll with it for now.]

farstriker, there was quite a bit of blogtalk about who screwed up on the O-line when Jason got hit, Pucillo or Heyer. Then there were even more questions b/c its not really possible to know what blocking scheme was called. I used the intergoogles to watch several different camera angles of that play. The more I watched it, the more I thought "WTF is that hit!" It doesn't matter what the O-line did. The hit was prototype bogus and needs to be treated like it was. Sheriff Goodell has brought out his smiting stick to make news about lots of guy's off-field conduct (which I'm not saying is bad), but his PRIMARY enforcement job SHOULD be ON-field conduct.

Coming Soon: I will be singing a 180 degree different tune when my team's lust for mayhem on the field results in excessive Commissionatorial fines.

Let the owners and players push to make the season longer. Fans should fight for tradition. The Super Bowl should be played in January. The reg season shouldn't start in August. No frigging games in Europe, fergawdsakes.

And while we're at it, the insane profusion of NFL nights must stop. MNF was good enough for our pioneer forefathers, and should be plenty for us.

More pronouncements:

14 is the ideal number of regular season games. 12 was good for the 60s. 16 is too many. 18 would be an abomination. Leviticus says so.

P Diddy, its gotta be lunar in origin, the way your summer is going with the other gender. Something might be off (your praise of peri tipped me off to that). Perhaps some cross-mojofication. Remember that young beauty, like a pair Levis, fades. I had a strategy that worked for me, but I don't want to weigh down the blog with it. Does Nate have your email? Ultimately, the right woman is going to be the one who honestly thinks your jokes are funny.

I'm all for reducing the number of preseason games. I don't need more regular season games. I like the way it works (twice in your division, once against teams in two other divisions that your division plays, and once against the same ranked team in yet two other divisions). If they mess with the number of games, its going to disrupt the way to shake out a division. I say replace one preseason game with another scrimmage, and standardize the preseason games more to minimize injuries (including enhanced fines for certain penalties, like Keisel's unsportsmanlike).

"I don't understand how you get hybrid receiver/running back out of a statement from the GM that says the guy is going to run short routes, goal line, and screens. And what does any of that have to do with Bobby Mitchell, Charley Taylor, Joe Washington, Antwaan Randle El, Kelvin Bryant? "

Sween,

That basically describes Randle El with the Steelers. Check out his rushing stats early on. It describes Taylor and Monk initially with the Skins. It describes Mitchell when he came from the Browns to the Skins. It describes a guy they usually convert from a full time runner to what amounts to a receiver whether they split him out or not. That is what a rejuvenated rehabilitated Priest Holmes can do for a team. In the case of the Skins he knows the system ... he was the system. He was probably the primary receiver on a lot of patterns before he got hurt. Cripes the Skins used Duane Thomas that way and he was a FULLBACK. As was Hershel Walker and he was a punt returner AND a hybrid receiver at the end.

As far as the "official" versus "unofficial" G-Fitz described being instructed to post a depth chart. Originally there was no depth chart until further notice before the new season started. He said that he had to get approvals from the FO and Gibbs before posting it. But as far as the NFL is concerned it may not be official yet.

If you can't understand that then you need to stop doing so many B-1 bong hits in the morning your brain cells are getting way too fried.

He also likes the THAT Young steppin D after all. Wonder how much he would enjoy it we pick up some Ravens droppings for back-up o-line guard. (We do like Rabach).

Farewell Big Joe. Thanks for the self surgery story of toughness. I'll never forget the run stuffing and crawling around on all fours like a dog after making the play in the backfield. You were the man when the sun over Fed-Ex was shining on ya.

I agree with the Wilson to Clemmons comparison too, its like Jasno linked up on the right radio wave today.

After all the build up from Grilliams, I am interested to Godfrey "explode through that last inch of contact" as Greggy says. I'd also like to see Kendall lay the smack down on somebody in that Jaguar front five.

I am truly hoping to see Campbell and Portis on the field together. I'll immediately have a bad feeling if Brunel is under center with Portis in the game, one pick away from Deja Vu. (Throwing salt over my shoulder and knuckle danicing with some wood as I type that....

"line when Jason got hit, Pucillo or Heyer. Then there were even more questions b/c its not really possible to know what blocking scheme was called. "

I think they were looking as much at chemistry and coordination. Heyer seems to be better in that sense. Wonder why we haven't seen Armstrong more? They seem to like him an awful lot as Jason's sources suggested.

Torrance is ahead of guys like Eubanks and Westbrook. Makes you wonder.

I think Wynn gets cut and they keep Wilson the Canadian league standout. If they cut Evans then Buzbee stays.

So, DirecTV extortion victims out there, 2 ?s from a guy who moved away from DC this spring and just had his dish installed:

1. Do you really have to have all the boxes in your house hooked up to the phone line to watch Sunday Ticket? All my phone jacks are across the rooms from all my boxes! I'm faced with talking Mrs. Choo into either wires on the floor or an electrician to install new jacks...

2. Can you see the preseason games live, too, or is it regular season only for Sunday Ticket?

Thanks for any experience/workarounds you can share. Would love to see the first couple series Thursday night with 80% of the starters in there.

As much as I like the true "core" skins, this is what you have to do in order to move on as a franchise......I remember Big Joe as a hard working non high profile free agent signing that produced and appealed to the common skins fan that pays too much for tickets and beer.....Lots of love for the hard work that Big Joe gave us over the last 3 years

PS: I also like the idea of Gabriel put forward by Andy Griffith. He could be the Art Monk clone that Gibby has been looking for to complete the "Posse II". Santana and ARE get to play Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders. I am stealing ideas here, but whoever wrote that comparison recently, I am starting to see it. The Monk replacement has been the missing ingredient.

A 2007 version of a tall possesion receiver that can snag soupy's high throws and give him a big target when he gets nervous. Ramsley and Brunel both liked fity fity Gardner for the same reasons. You can sling it in the zip code and the long arms can haul stuff in, better margin of error.

Choo choo, I had same problem re: Direct TV. Go to radio shack and they have "wireless" phone jack that plugs into any wall electric outlet. Prettty cool. Or get one off E-bay, work like a champ.. no changes to wall phone jack outlets.

Also Talent, I agree no impressive stuff from Palmer...cause he never sniffed the field. Otherwise I suspect he would have played Marky B. right out of town.

"P Diddy, its gotta be lunar in origin, the way your summer is going with the other gender. Something might be off (your praise of peri tipped me off to that). Perhaps some cross-mojofication. Remember that young beauty, like a pair Levis, fades."

You remember the sage advice Pdiddy? Don't listen to dr. sween he swills too much from the font of White Plains. LOL It boils down to this and I am sure most of this blog will freak out in condemnation (Creating more entertainment for a very bored yours truly. ) You've heard the "women are like street cars" or whatever? Men are from Mars women are from Venus horse hockey?

Here's the truth as I have witnessed it: Women like to be romanced men like to romance them to get them. Men are far more likely to do foolish things in an effort to get that one women they believe they can't live without. Some of those foolish things will appear less than romantic to women ... especially stalker type things ... nevertheless it is that man's
notion of romancing his one-and-only.

Women are far more pragmatic. Just because they look like a red hot model does not mean they aren't pragmatic. They usually aren't like Barbie. Women like security over love. They like to feel safe. Men (although many will never admit it) desire an intimate relationship with that one special lady. They want to let the dogs out, release those hidden demons and not be slammed into the astroturf for being who they are.

Those two very different priorities / desires often run roughshod over each other.

Knowledge is power. Know your qualifications as well as your weaknesses. Learn to listen very carefully to everything said because too often it may not be the truth (as you have found) But do not judge. Look at things from the perspective that it is a game and you are supposed to have fun. If you take it too seriously then you will have already lost. So being judgmental, getting angry, feeling betrayed or "dissed" will only hurt yourself.

You aren't going to find your 10 right away. You may need practice with some 4's and 5's, some 6's and 7's before you are ready for her. It may sound callous but that is how they look at it. If you live in the DC area you have access to thousands of beautiful women potentially meeting your qualifications. You just have to train yourself ... get your basic skills down so that your will be ready for that challenge. And that is how you make
yourself a winner in any game.

I read this blog everyday.......whether I like it or ot I read some of the most ridiculous dribble i've heard since miss teen South Carolina decided to open her mouth. That said lets not make this into a counceling session. I'll council you now so you don't get overcharged later in life by some so called doctor. A couple things are set in stone.
1. Women and men whether how different will try to figure out a way to put up with each other.
2. Sports are one constant that will keep man sane while putting up with a woman.
3. Three rules is probaly way too many when trying to figure out why we put up with them.

So my only question is: What do you really think the skins record will be this year?

I read this blog everyday.......whether I like it or ot I read some of the most ridiculous dribble i've heard since miss teen South Carolina decided to open her mouth. That said lets not make this into a counceling session. I'll council you now so you don't get overcharged later in life by some so called doctor. A couple things are set in stone.
1. Women and men whether how different will try to figure out a way to put up with each other.
2. Sports are one constant that will keep man sane while putting up with a woman.
3. Three rules is probaly way too many when trying to figure out why we put up with them.

So my only question is: What do you really think the skins record will be this year?

Expect them to be around 8 and 3 by then Nate. The defense looks way too good. Depth there is outstanding this year. Thank our lucky stars. Offense will be sluggish and conservative. As long as they don't fumble or throw int's we'll be alright. Looks like a George Allen kind of year.

I could see us picking up a WR, and I could see us sticking with the dudes we have right now. I am wishy-washy on this. Just having a QB whose passes can reach Santa and Chaos should improve things right off the bat in the passing game. I don't see WR as the huge problem a lot of you do, but then I don't know diddly poo about fubball.

As for O line, I feel like integrating Kendall and a recovered Samuels, and developing some of that critical 'chemistry', is job one.

We do know that if a big name dude is cut and he plays anything approaching a position of need, our FO can be trusted to make a play. That's one thing to love and hate about them.

Some friends came over for dinner a few days ago and brought a six pack of this Lagunitas, and we had some left over (it was a nice quiet dinner). I hadn't really been paying attention to the beer that night, but now that I am, it's quite enjoyable. Better than Urquell, and I say that as a fan of Urquell.

Hmm... Soup got a direct hit from his blind side in practice. I can't believe Jasno didn't seize that golden opportunity to blindly speculate as to which of our linemen was to blame, and perpetuate the feud that some people think is occurring between him and Gibbs, since he allegedly hates the Skins so much! Ha ha ha!

Is it just me, or when you zoom in on the pic, is JC playing without knee pads?? I know that this before the Keisel hit, but it makes you wonder if the blow would've been softened considerable had he been wearing knee pads.

Amen, Brother PDid, and with apologies to Bill Maher, here's a New Rule: All players on a team may be suited for any game and there is no limit on how many players an owner may have on his/her team. (Or in the case of Green Bay, their team.)
Bring as many as you think you can pay. Bring as many as you think you can play.
Come on wit' it!!

So, DirecTV extortion victims out there, 2 ?s from a guy who moved away from DC this spring and just had his dish installed:

1. Do you really have to have all the boxes in your house hooked up to the phone line to watch Sunday Ticket? All my phone jacks are across the rooms from all my boxes! I'm faced with talking Mrs. Choo into either wires on the floor or an electrician to install new jacks...
Posted by: Choo Choo | August 28, 2007 11:54 PM

Choo, do you by any chance remember a Skin's player went by the handle of Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice?
And, far as I 'member 'bout the Sunday Ticket, ya had to have the phone runnin' to any box you planned to watch the ST on, if ya catch my drift.
In other words, if ya gots 6 TV's in yer house and ya on'y wanna watch ST on 3, then I believe ya only have to have those 3 on phone line.
God, it's so great to be a US American.

2. Sports are one constant that will keep man sane while putting up with a woman.
Posted by: Esmydee13 | August 29, 2007 12:57 AM

Esmy, my main man, if you are a Skin's fan and you are still sane after sittin' thru the years between Joe 1.0 and the present time in which we find ourselves, then you need to join Nate, Stumped, m'damn self, and who knows who for some semi-serious suds suckin' on Wednesday evenin' in the beautiful river city of Portland, Oregon.

Ach, I'm as terrible at poker as at making sense on this blog. I give it old college try once in a while, but for the most part my hope is to make people smile at my egregious gaffes and lack of skill.

Why, you want to take some money off me? I can be fairly described in gambling terms as a 'pigeon.'

Thanks for the insight. It sounds like the team is starting to come together and ready to put everything on the line. A
"do or die" type of attitude, which is good to see with the season just around the corner.

I am looking forward to seeing how the "O"-line performs on Thursday. They are going to be crucial to this season's success and keeping JC healthy, obviously.

Trying to keep things in perspective that football season begins in four days with college ball.

That is awesome, Chris. I am unfamiliar with Tom's but may have to give it a look.

One thing I like about On Deck is that it's non-smoking, a rarity in smoky Stumptown, and it has WiFi (that's two things) so there are possibilities of bloggage. But I will go out on a limb and say that Stumped and Willie and I would be happy to find a ready-made Skins bar.

So, DirecTV extortion victims out there, 2 ?s from a guy who moved away from DC this spring and just had his dish installed:

1. Do you really have to have all the boxes in your house hooked up to the phone line to watch Sunday Ticket? All my phone jacks are across the rooms from all my boxes! I'm faced with talking Mrs. Choo into either wires on the floor or an electrician to install new jacks...
Posted by: Choo Choo | August 28, 2007 11:54 PM

Choo, do you by any chance remember a Skin's player went by the handle of Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice?
And, far as I 'member 'bout the Sunday Ticket, ya had to have the phone runnin' to any box you planned to watch the ST on, if ya catch my drift.
In other words, if ya gots 6 TV's in yer house and ya on'y wanna watch ST on 3, then I believe ya only have to have those 3 on phone line.
God, it's so great to be a US American.

THIS IS FALSE! YOU DO NOT NEED THE PHONE LINES HOOKED UP AT ALL...All the phone line connection is for is if you plan to order pay per view movies etc by remote. I live in Orlando Florida and have had the Sunday ticket for years...No phone lines...You can even call and ask them they will tell you no you do not need it....IT ALSO DOES NOT MATTER HOW MANY RECIEVERS YOU HAVE...If you order the ticket it will be on all TVS!

Huh. Kind of interesting, weird, vaguely informed DirecTV discussion up here tonight. Funny, anyway. The critical piece is that there's still time before the NFL season to get the kinks worked out. Which is good for Choo Choo.

I swear, I love watching a few games, but the passion with some people and their DirecTV. Maybe that is because it is still beautiful late into football season around here, so I try to limit the amount of games I watch.

When I lived and grew up in DC it was cold by October and you wanted to stay inside...

Anyway, I got to log off so have a good night and dropped you an e-mail.

I used to live in Orlando and don't recall a 'skins bar. I used to go to Gators Dockside on Semoran and Conway just north of the airport. Good food and every NFL game on various big screens. I know as far as college b-ball I often went to Friday's Front Row but that was just to keep the gang happy as I didn't care for it or its location. (International Drive)

There was a link posted about a week ago with "Skins" bars in FL but I remain quite skeptical after reading the list. From memory: it was several locations of Smoky Bones which is a decent chain-ribs place. I remember having a sunday afternoon meal with the fam and discovering the 'skins and Bills on TV, but in no way was it a 'skins hang out. However it may have become one after the 'ol ball coach became the coach.

Lastly, if your looking for a three bedroom condo in a golf community to rent or buy let me know.

Interesting...optimism slowly catching on. I think we should be cautiously optimistic for a number of reasons, but I do emphasize cautiously.

1. Continuity. Despite the 5-11 season, the 'skins kept virtually the same coaches, systems and players (four new starters: Kendall, Fletcher, MacIntosh and Landry). This is a good thing for a team that constantly tries to make the BIG SPLASH.

2. Injuries. The Redskins currently have all projected starters...projected to start opening day. Here's to health.

3. Youth. Only eight starters 30 and over(Samuels, Kendall, Thomas, Jansen, Daniels, Griffin, Fletcher, and Springs). All in positions where age/experience is an advantage. Guys in the trenches can have a effective career past 33 (ie. Bruce Matthews, Ray Brown, Reggie White, Bruce Smith.) That leaves a core of 14 players with the only immediate need for youth at DE.

4. Schedule. A good showing in the division and playoffs should be possible.

DTC, RBD202, Willie, my brother Poo Poo, Nate, Stumptown and even Anon: Thanks for the sweet tips and comments on the phone jacks for my new setup. Looking forward to witnessing the demise of Redcoat's dreams on 9/9!

if Samuels, Kendall, Thomas, Jansen, Daniels, Griffin, Fletcher, and Springs are all over 30 years old this draft we better be looking offensive and defensive linemen...we have enough depth at CB to cover up for Shawn Springs we have time about 4 more years...i hope we can really devlope Byron Westbrook in to a starting CB...i really like this guy..we also already have someone for London Fletcher when he is to old...and that is his prototype H.B. Blades...i really like H.B. he was a great pick in the draft..and yes i believe that we can make it to the NFC Championship Game

How quickly we forget 2 years ago when CP was healthy he set the team rushing record and was an overall beast!! There is no need for him to play much if at all in the pre-season. Betts is a good backup I love Betts but he is no Portis. Portis is a game changer.

Here are the thoughts of some Iggles fan masquerading his blog as info about the salary cap:

NFL Salary cap prevents development

The NFL salary cap has been set for around 109 milion dollars with no limit in sight to the ceiling. The limit of players on a team though has caused more parity then any salary cap inforced though. Lets look at the Philadelphia Eagles situation as a good example. The Washington Redskins would be the exact opposite of this scenario.

The Philadelphia Eagles manage their salary cap with a formula developed to continue to put the best team on the field out of the 53 players allowed(and 8 on the practice squad). However, because of the limit on the number of players, the Eagles have to cut anywhere from five to ten quality players each year. The Eagles build through the draft and have to develop the talent. Sometimes, it takes 2 to 3 years to get a player to the level needed to be successful on the team. The problem is that the Eagles dont have that kind of time to devote to one player due to the number of new players each year in the draft.

My proposal is to have 25 players on the practice squad with 12 of them protected from being scooped up by other teams. This way, NFL teams can develop players the right way. Imagine if the Eagles had all of their draft picks stick around for year or two to see if they develop. How good could a team be then?

So glad preseason is almost over. I've felt like a version of Jim McKay on ABCs Wide World of Sports lately:
"Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of (naked people). The thrill of (Brianna loves Jenna), and the agony of (porn mag thief busted after dropping a trey in public)."

Oh c'mon. Even if Campbell gets a full quarter of play (which he won't), he'd still have played less than every other starting QB in the league! And he needs it more than most.

As for Brunell, I want him to stay. The way our DEF looks, if something happens to Campbell, I want someone with experience who won't lose the game. There's a reason Collins has been a b/u for 12 years.

And I totally agree with wstclair. The gurus at ESPN etc love telling doom and gloom stories about the Skins, but Portis is our starter and he's top notch.

If they do get Portis on the field, hopefully its in the second half with garbage time scrubs. Umm. Scratch that. Those guys are trying to make the team so their personal lusts for mayhem might be in overdrive. Still, I just hope he doesn't re-injure the knee (or that if he does, he recovers quickly).

Gang, I've mentioned it before and will do ao again. Ray never has a positive thing to say about anything. His posts are all "bring you downers" - he also posts on the Wizards blog and it's always how the team is going to crash and burn - something like that - and the Wiz were winning!

anybody else think Clinton Portis is a bum? the guy acts like he's a top 5 back in the league- maybe 3 years ago but those days are long gone- tired of his whining about practicing and play a "few" plays in the preseason.

If anyone has watched Portis' press interviews on redskins.com, you will realize that he is pretty much pulling a Jerome Bettis. He can't even keep a straight face when asked about the injury. He will be fine. He even said he'd claim to be only 98% healthy so he wouldn't have to play. "We're talking about practice!"

God help the souls who think we should bring in Kevan "I was replaced by a guy with 2 knee surgeries" Barlow, Priest "Beer Me a New Neck" Holmes, or anyone else who isn't 26 on Saturday with 5000+ yards and playing with a chip on his shoulder. Relax kids! Portis would have been playing with a backup left o-line anyway the previous 3 games. I mean practices.

When I have U.S. American children, I will make sure they get maps, just like the Iraqi, South African and Asian children. Although I think the Iraqi children would prefer for war to end, and then maybe maps.

... "Redskins World" would get them in. But I think we need "Redskins Galaxy" to include the posters here that are from Mars and beyond. ...

Posted by: talent evaluator | August 29, 2007 10:21 AM

te, already have one of those here (search on page for Mars).

Desireskins has it right. It IS possible to have quality Skins-relevant posts without all the jibba jabba and STILL reach the Boren Penultimatum. No need to sacrifice quality for quantity. Which is to say, what are you looking for in Jackonsville tomorrow night?

Mine:
1. At least three carries btwn the tackles for more than 3 yards. [Fourth week I've been looking for this.]
2. Brunell not to have a "career" game (like Collins' game against the Titans) and prolong the agony over the #2 spot. [But it is MUCH better to have the QB controversy be of the roster spot for the most popular guy in town, rather than the ACTUAL quarterback.]
3. One. Single. Sack. By the Starters. [I count the Sartz touchdown as Prioleau's sack rather than Sartz' interception, so an interception would be nice too.]

Desireskins, have you been following the conversation up here for long? We have so little to sustain us in the gaps between Real News and Events that we often resort to silliness and jibba-jabba, and occasionally devolve into pointless infighting. That's how this thing operates. I think.

Clinton Portis will you please show Joe b more this year, he would really really like that. He is bashing you b/c you don't want to get hurt in preseason games as you did last year. I know I know he isn't remembering how you play huge in games, sacrifice your body, ram into linemen even though your small, set a regular season redskins rushing record, kept the team loose in playoff run, carried us into playoffs...

I don't check in here for a couple of days and find out big Joe is gone? That stinks. I am happy to see a more youthful defense though... it is exciting to see us bring in young cats instead of trying to sell more jerseys with FAs. Let's get that chemistry going.

Desireskins, it's a big blog, there's room for a little bit of everything!

And just to catch you up, if your interest and patience haven't already been exhausted, there is a contingent of blog peeps who are working towards a total of 88,888 total comments posted by kickoff of the Skins-Fins game, ten days hence.

This intrinsically silly goal is the Boren Penultimatum, named for the intrepid Cindy AKA Jason's editor, who babysits the blog and supports our silliness wholeheartedly (I think).

It's a steep hill to climb, but with help from good people like you, and assuming a steady flow of Real Skins News to stoke the fire, we'll get there!

Can't agree with you on desireskins. There is a tradeoff between quality and quantity. Personally I'd be happy to stop shooting for quantity -- I don't understand the point. But I have a problem with telling other people what they can and can't post on the internet, and there's no way you can filter out the jibba-jabba anyway.

This blog has always been a chatroom. You just scroll down and look for posts from reliable contributors who you know will have something to say.

How would you fill in the blanks in this sentence: "Of the 80 thousand posts on RI, approximately __ thousand were actually worth reading, and approximately ___ are worth reading a second time."

Let me also say that people will never agree on what constitutes jibba-jabba. Your observation last night that the right woman is the one who laughs at your jokes would be jibba-jabba to a lot of people. But, I think it just about sums it all up.

Whoever called Clinton a bum - bite your low-hanging tongue, vile beast! The man is the epitome of a gamer. Lest we forget - he blew his shoulder out last year hustling back to tackle the Bungles' Kewon Ratliffe (sp?) after Boo-nell's lollipop was picked off. He is not injury-proned either - last yr was the first in his 5 year career that he missed significant time. And I agree that his knee is fine and he's biding his time until next week. One can hardly blame him give last year's debacle. He's going to have a monster season - his best as a SKin, mark my words. Go on now, Southeast Jerome!!

offensive production and turnovers....campbell will have alot to say about both....his game needs to move up a level or more....portis, moss, cooley et al just need to do what they have proven over thier respective careers....one of the keys is lloyd because we lack any other speed option next to moss ....he needs to give us what he gave sf...45/5 15yds per....the defense will be fine....maybe better than fine

Knowing full well that this is going to infuriate Lisa, I honestly think Brunell is on his way out. I just don't see the need to keep 2 back-up QB's who are on the wrong side of 30. This time last year, I would have said it was Collins who should be shown the door. But I think Todd has had a better showing this preseason. Save for Mark coming out tomorrow night and lighting up Jacksonville as part of some 'lust for mayhem' grudge towards the Jags, seems like trading him away to some QB starved team like Atlanta might be the way to go.

Hey, I love the jibba jabba. Some of the strict skins stuff can get a little...well, stale. How many times can you review the status of a 5th string linebacker who may or may not make the practice squad.

I don't mind reading it, but if that's all there was, I'm sure plenty of us wouldn't be here. What would a workday be without a Redskins Haiku?!

Make no mistake. I am among the worst (or at least, most prolific) perpetrators of jibba jabba, which are really just a form of calesthenics waiting for real news (see Nate at 10:38). Its just that I had forgotten that, during the season last season, peeps at least made an effort to add some sort of Skins-related burp to the end of their posts (even if its just a poke in the bug eye of Mr. Cerra-d'oh!).

I'm good with the jibba jabba, but realize that, as community, part of our philanthropic mission is to stay Skins-focused.

So how would you game plan Campbell and Portis tomorrow night, if you put on your Al Saunders headset and scripted the first 20 plays?

Start out with a deep throw to Lloyd (like Campbell's first snap as a starter last season), and then da-doo-run-run?

Posted by: Nate in the PDX | August 29, 2007 11:01 AM

Nate,

Deep throw to Lloyd, Brandon? Risk all the game starting exuberance on the Skins' Priest Holmes wannabe? Not just yet. Not now. Remember, run to set up the pass (not pass to set up the run). That said, you're probably right about the coach in the booth.

If its destined to be a botched play, it should at least be a gadget ... maybe a double reverse from Portis to Randel El, who runs wide but stays behind the line of scrimmage, to pass the ball to Portis across the field. TOUCHDOWN REDSKINS!*

* [whistle whistle ... ref whistles the play dead before it starts b/c Lloyd, Brandon does not have his chin strap snapped on.]

Has anyone tried Speights Gold Medal? Kost? It's a beer from New Zealand--my favorite beer. Refreshingly light, but not watered down. Too bad, I can't find it in the U.S. (Trader Joes used to sell them).

Sorry for going back a few post back.

BTW, I am officially trimming my moniker down to Stop. Stop with the KA is too much to type.

Yeah, way too much jibba-jabba up here. People posting links to Darwin-award winners. Or talking about dirty diapers. Or good beers and wines from around the world. Such nerve, I say. Such nerve. Who would do such things?

Redcoat:
The Skins very well may lose to the Dolphins, I doubt it, but definately very very possible. HOWEVA (Stephen A. Smith!), how in the world do you figure that the Dolphins will be able to put up 17 on the Skins D at home? I see them scoring 13 at the most, and that is if they get a special teams or defensive td. Maybe a turnover inside the redzone, which the Skins my well accomodate that one.

I still maintain the Skins need a big wideout to compliment the Smurfs on third down. If he was affordable, Meshawn Johnson would have been perfect for this.

Fulvio, I think Portis was being Portis when he said that if he didn't get the job done he wouldn't be here. No worries. He WILL get the job done (hope, pray, dominus omus, etc.) and, besides, no way the Skins could afford the cap hit if he moves on.

That said, I think this is the year for the Skins to re-load at RB with a first or second round pick. Best not to wait till its a crisis.

Yes I saw that SCSkins. They call it the 'paint pump' and Green had to check twice with Cameron to make sure he heard it right.

I think you will see more 'Weird Al Saunders' type plays in this game from the Fins than from the Skins. We don't have a lot of weaponry available on our O, so expect to see him do things that GG can't scheme for beforehand.

I fully expect to see us use the screen to Ronnie Brown/Jesse Chatman a LOT to take the blitzes out of the game.

I think the reason that they gave the edge to Miami in coaching on that site is that there isn't much evidence that St Joe actually coaches your team any more. Everyone knows that Dom Capers is a great defensive coach and Miami have had a Top 5 D for years. Cam calls all the plays as well as sets the tone for the team, so why not give Miami the edge there? Now if it were Gibbs working under his 1.0 style you'd have a genuine beef...

I guarantee you Portis's comments were a joke "Oh I don't know, if Ladell keeps playing the way he did last year I might be gone." Stupid Times. They probably think he actually supports dog fighting too.

I don't see how they get rid of Portis. If he has an elite RB season, they won't want to. And if he has a sub-par season or has injury issues again I don't know what team would take on his salary. Can't cut him for salary cap reasons. Not to mention the beating they will take for having nothing to show for Champ Bailey. He'll finish his contract here at least.

1500 rushing (1750 total) and 12 TDs this year for CP. Watch and enjoy.

Hi TE. Ginn is looking better and better as a receiver and worse and worse as a returner. I think he believed that raw speed would be enough on returns and he's been shut down SO badly that they've taken him off of them.

I have calculated the most likely place to find a steak/cheese (correctly referred to as a cheese steak in most of the nation). Please go to the Wish Bone grill on 3rd St. SW for a delightful experience.

te, I dunno about 'up here.' I'll ponder it. The first quirk that occurred to me is the phrase "Y'aren't from around here, are ya?" That's around, not up. On this blog, Jasno or CynCyty put 'up' a new thread, so I think posters put posts 'up here'. There has to be a funnier answer. Gimme some time.

Getting off the so-called twisting, turning John Nash Highway followed by Dealer and Nate ...

I think redcoat is right. I suspect the Dolphins win this one.

The Skins are bringing in some youngsters both on defense and special teams. Portis is behaving like a primadonna. Yes its true that San Diego holds back LT AND the Redskins of old used to hold back Larry Brown the entire preseason. Both for good reason. Clinton Portis, as much as he wants to believe it is so IS NOT AND NEVER WILL BE A LaDamian Tomlinson OR A Larry Brown. He definitely needs preseason to get ready. Now it will take him a few games to get rolling. And he will likely fumble.

The OL is still in disarray, still trying to get in synch, still trying to get on the same page.

The QB will be throwing a lot, to whom? Santana Moss and Cooley. I don't expect much from the others. Might help more to put Antwaan Randle El in the backfield with Portis. Mistakes may be made. Bad ones like fumbles and ints.

The defense is going to be younger. Facing off against their 1st veteran QB. Someone who I am sure is passing off tidbits to the Fins defense about how the Redskins offense works. While he himself is learning a new system.

I expect the defense to be very effective but to make enough mistakes to let the Fins score.

HOWEVER there is an X-FACTOR. And that is Randall Godfrey. If he shows and plays the way he has for San Diego et al. HE could change the complexion of the game. In the early going I expect Fletcher, Griffin, Washington (if he is in there) and Godfrey will anchor this defense and standout as leaders. That will be a very good thing Redskins fans worldwide.

Periculum and anyone else who likes Pilsner Urq (sorry, from last night)- I love it too, but if you ever get the opportunity to spend any time in the Czech Rep, take advantage- some of the best beers I've ever had. If you like the above, you'll love Gambrinus (my personal fav), Krusovice (which I heard was sold to Heineken in June- may make these less impossible to fine), Velvet, Velke Popovice, etc. And the only "light" you'll find here is the light flowing from the gates of heaven as you taste one of these beauties.

But periculum, what about the part where they're saving Portis to be the QB this year? You know, based on your theoretical/existential statistical analyses... he's completed 2 of 4 passes for 32 yards and 2 TDs in his career. Passer rating of 116.7. Shocked, just SHOCKED, that you've overlooked such an obvious choice for our starting QB!

The game is a contest between two teams, not one. You can't analyze the game by looking only at the Redskins. This isn't masturbation. A convincing analysis has to look at both teams and how they line up against each other. Based on your analysis, the Redskins would lose even to the Washington Wizards or the Alice Deal Vikings.

Jasno was absolutely crushing it, four posts in one day... though three of them were about kickers. (Remember when we had kicking competition in camp?) These posts garnered 14, 11, 17 and 8 comments respectively. The good old days?

The first and best post of Jasno's on this day last year was an unabashedly positive(!) look at Cornelius Griffin's importance to the D, which correctly noted how bad we looked without him in there and health.

Almost unconscionable today: the first comment on that thread, from JT, wasn't posted until it was 56 minutes old and did not contain the word 'first.'

Are the Skins doing anything today? Jasno's article today says that yesterday's practice was the only one of the week. Does that mean they are flying down today? Stay here, work out, and watch film? Get in a few rounds of paint ball?

I expect the skins D to play nearly lights out with the exception of a couple big plays. After last year and from what I've seen this year, I'm still expecting to see a big Ronnie Brown break for like 40 yds or a deep bomb over Carlos Rogers' head. I think plays like this might slip through in the first four weeks of the season as the D gels.

Unfortunately, the Offense--at this point--needs even more work to gel and I hope it can get done in 1-4 weeks. Gibbs needs to insist on max-protect and power running by Portis and Betts with occasional deep passes to keep Ds honest. The fancy stuff is going to have to take a back seat while Kendall learns the offense and JC heals his knee.

I see a little stumbling on both sides, but the Dolphins don't have a lot on offense to scare me.

Here is a positive piece of analysis by the statistical-oriented website Football Outsiders. Their metrics are very complicated and I tend to only cite them when they support the Redskins as in 2005 when they said we ended the playoffs with the best defense in football. Here goes (the first number if the betting line and the second number is what their official publication says and then the author's commentary is more positive than that:

. . .

Washington Redskins (+/- 7.5 Wins)
PFP 2007 Projection: 8.2 Wins

I'm going to say that the Redskins not only hit their Over, but they host a playoff game. Why? A lot of things. Their third-down performance on defense is going to improve, and they've upgraded their weaknesses with the additions of LaRon Landry, Fred Smoot (who is at least better than Mike Rumph, for sure) and London Fletcher-Baker, plus the return to health of Cornelius Griffin. On offense, while Brandon Lloyd will continue to be Brandon Lloyd, the Redskins will have had a full year to digest the Al Saunders offensive playbook, with Lewin Career Forecast favorite Jason Campbell behind center from training camp on. While we're not sanguine on Clinton Portis' chances of staying healthy for a full year, he'll be able to split time with Ladell Betts. I may be a fool, but I think that I'm buying low here on an underrated team.

A Gibb-ism from his first tenure: "flustrated", which I assume is a combination of flustered and frustrated. He used it when things did not go well - "We were all very flustrated by the lack of turnovers" or some such. I have not heard him use it since he has been back.

Mark, another one of my favorites, which we heard all the time when Gibbs first came back -- and which sadly hasn't been heard very much in the middling seasons since, even in the playoff run -- is that high-pitched cackle of a laugh with which he sometimes ends a sentence. Man, I love that cackle.

Nate, also love when he cackles his guts out. The difference btwn pregame Gibbs jogging onto the field and weakened, drained Gibbs truding off the field post-game is shocking. It looks like the game literally sucks age out of the guy. Gotta love the guts out cackle.

Would someone please tell me what is the RIGHT answer to that question -- "Why don't U. S. Americans know where their country is on a map?"

That's a tough question especially if, as Miss TSC said, she only heard about two words of it. For that matter, how many of the people who have posted here today can find the US on a map?

She gave a good answer later on her second guess -- she blamed it on her teachers.

Posted by: talent evaluator | August 29, 2007 12:26 PM

Agreed about the question being hard. However, one should at least be smart enough to recognize it as such, take a moment, gather ones thoughts, and respond coherently. There is no excuse for firing off a non-coherent response.

[Poke poke: Why is it St. Joe and never Vinny (as a proxy for The Owner) who accepts responsibility on the flip ups? Has anyone ever spoken on record to acknowledge the FA shabingus after the 2005 season?]

bangkokben, I love the optimism, but if we beat them 24-0, I will run naked up and down Madison Ave (Cincinnai that is, not NYC) yelling "Portis for Prez!! Portis for Prez!!" We will do well to escape with a victory, given our lack of continuity with the first teamers, particularly on offense. I am hoping and thinking that our D can keep us in games the first few weeks while JC, Portis, Samuels, Kendall, et al knock off the rust.

Nonetheless, this could be a 10 or 11 win team a la '05. JC is going to surpise some peple, CP will bring it, Laron and Sean will kill 4-5 guys on the field sans conviction, and Suisham is good for at least 2 GW FG's. To paraphrase Eddie Veder, "Hail hail the lucky ones, I refer to those in (burgudy and gold)..."

I agree that the girl could and should have done much better, but the question is one that can only be answered (correctly) by empirical research. Most of the questions these girls get are ones that the answer is "love", "world peace," "puppy dogs," or "my parents."

Ray, it has come to our attention that you're never positive about anything up here. i think we, at LG can help you see the world half full. all we need is a creditcard number and expiration date. WE can make you see beauty around you.

get on the phone NOW and call 1-800-IWANT2SEE-LG!

fine print: we reserve the right to contract our services to third part such as JM220 for special services and rentals of tools (such as hammers).

In the age of exploration they were highly sought after, highly compensated and respected members of the military and kings court.

As formal education became the norm is most countries, a apprenticeships became unnecessary, certain educational vocations became more important. Advances in science, mathematics and more popular disciplines put geography at a distance.

Geographic principals have not change that much throughout the years. Now that we have the printed word you do not have to know geography as a principal and theorem, you only need to know how to read a map.

But even that skill is now lacking. With the advent of technology, we have forgotten how to get somewhere and relied upon a mapping software or GPS device to tell us where we are and where to go.

You see plenty of evidence in nature about how knowledge of where they are and where to go is necessary for survival. Migrating birds, whales returning to breeding grounds and even phytoplankton who know when there is a full moon and to release its eggs.

This is a microcosm of society as a whole. Many say todays generation is lacking direction and does not understand their place in society or history as a whole. We are too reliant on the easy way of doing things. Technology has been wonderful for human advancement, especially in the medical sciences.

But as we confront major societal issues, such as obesity, we can point directly to technology helping to make humans essentially lazy. After millions of years of evolution and advancement, we have finally outmoded ourselves making these advancements unilaterally unimportant.

All one has to do is go outside and look in one direction. You should be able to tell which cardinal direction you are facing. There are numerous clues in nature that can point this out, yet we have forgotten these skills.

So in closing, as a geographer, it pains me when someone cannot pick out their own country on a map. But it really is not out of lack of intelligence. It is from lack of experience with one of the most simple and vital principals that humans needed to survive, where are we, and where do we need to go.

I would say that based all we have done from inserting JC into the lineup at mid year right thru to the trade for kendall,has put us in a position to be a team that is undervalued and therefore has achance to outperform the national (local?)media's expectation..... it really could be the anti-last year

So the girl's second answer -- blaming her teachers -- was the right one.

Thanks for that, an unexpected benefit of the jibba-jabba on RI. A little more intellectual than we're used to on Redskins Insider. More like Redskins Insighter. Maybe not as riveting, though, as Redskins Inside Her.

Still troubled by this pageant Q&A brouhaha. My transcript and commentary:

Aimee Teegarden: "Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can't locate the US on a world map. Why do you think this is?"

comment: it seems to be totally silent in the auditorium, and the question is
asked from the foot of the stage in a clear, amplified voice, and I don't see any reaction from the smiling contestant which indicates any difficulty hearing the question.

Miss Teen South Carolina: "I personally believe that U.S. Americans* are unable to do so because, uh, some-uh people out there in our nation that don't have maps, and, uh, I believe that our, ah, education, like such as South Africa, and the Iraq and everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., er, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq [timer bell] and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future [mike retracted momentarily by emcee] for our-" [mercifully cut off by emcee]

* I personally heard this as 'you as Americans' the first time -- which is funny in a different way, a person from South Carolina addressing the audience as Americans in the second person -- but now I agree that she said 'U.S. Americans'.

Cowboys not impressed with RB Jones
There's one reason and only one reason I think Julius Jones will be gone at the end of the season: The Cowboys don't think he's special. Think back over the last couple of years. The Cowboys worked out deals with Jason Witten, Bradie James and Roy Williams before or during the final year of their contracts. They're doing the same thing with Tony Romo. There has not been a peep about giving Jones a new deal. The Cowboys think Jones is a good player, but not worth the millions of upfront cash it will take to keep him. -- Dallas Morning News

I took her "hearing only two words" to mean that she was so tense/frightened that the words didn't penetrate her conciousness. They went in her ears, but never reached her brain. Maybe, as you suggest, that's because there was no brain to reach, but frankly, I'm surprised more people in these events don't have the same reaction. I'm sure if you had asked her the same question in a room with her friends she would have done better. Or maybe even if she'd been last instead of first.

Mind you, this is not say that she's not -- as you gracefully put it -- truly dumb. But she looked and acted tongue-tied or, maybe, dumbstruck. I don't think I could have done much better than she, although I am a beastly good looking hunk and people might not have noticed.

Jets eye former Ravens lineman?
The Ravens waived guard Keydrick Vincent, a seven-year veteran, on Tuesday. Vincent, who started 12 games last year, underwent successful surgery for a sports hernia in the off-season. But he lost his job because of a youth movement. Vincent's agent, Ken Zuckerman, said Tuesday a "couple of teams" already were interested, but the Jets weren't one of them. Zuckerman indicated the Jets could be a possibility, although there has been no contact with them thus far. -- Bergen Record

Miss Teen South Carolina elected to deconstruct the ignorance referred to in the question and reinscribe it into the contest...so she chose to assume the persona of someone who might not understand what a map actually is. She also wisely chose to specify "US Americans" to clarify that all the other inhabitants of our two continents may in fact own maps and possibly look at them from time to time.

In doing so, she has exhibited the Britney Spearsification of our country (we two are in the head-shaving twilight of our status) , which indites the culture of celebrity and even the very beauty pageant of which she is a part.

4th, irony indeed ... it might also put the Jasno hating crowd into convulsions that a guy he thought the Skins could pick up as depth ends up being the guy to salvage the Jets' season! [note: Skins play the Jets at the Meadowlands this year, in that cruelest of months (this season anyway), November.]

4th, time flies when your guts out bloggin'. Jasno put this up only 25 hours ago!

"Keydrick Vincent

The Skins have already made one significant move to better their O Line, and if I am them I'm checking out this dude, too.

The Ravens have gone with a youth movement on their line, but this guy can play some and would give them great depth at guard. Pucillo is very valuable as the back-up center and the tackle eligible in the jumbo package, but other than that they don't have much. He is much more at home on the right side, too, but Vincent has worked a lot on both sides."

When will sports will become relevant in DC area on a national level again? The skins suck, the wizards suck, the nationals suck, and the capitols suck. The only thing that the DC metro area has going is MLS, lame game!

Makes you wonder why the the "Genius" Ozzie Newsome didnt try to unload the dude for a low level draft pick.

Posted by: Chris Larry | August 29, 2007 02:38 PM

You can be sure that he did try to get a pick and that he couldn't. For all the talk up here about trying to get picks for guys who are going to be waived, I don't think we've seen many such trades this year, have we? Kendall? The Philadelphia backup QB?

"Peri,
If the Skins drop the season opener to Dolphins, who do they beat this season?"

Hmmm my analytical brain that apparently has claimed that Portis would make a good QB (where does 4-12 get his stuff I can do better than that in my SLEEP dude!!) sez:

Dolphins are NOT, I REPEAT NOT (to all you miss teen South Calinky types out dere) IN our conference. AND especially NOT in our division.

That said I am not unhappy with the idea of an extended "preseason" trying to iron out the OL, the running backs etc.
in that game. In fact Jason mentioned in his article that holding
back Portis was probably a mistake as it will take a few games
to get him rolling. Then he mentions Betts. I like Betts. He works hard. Portis is too busy worrying about dog fights. Then there is the wide receiver snafu. Its going to take time.

But a loss out of conference, out of the division I can live with as long as it prepares them for those all important division matchups.

But on the defensive side of the ball it will be a wake up call. It will wake them up to the fact that they are going to be the driving force behind the team this year. That as THEY GO so go
the Redskins. Then the leaders will rise up, Griffin, Godfrey, Fletcher, and Washington and in the second game there will be hell to pay.